High SCC Research Articles

Comparison of physical and behavioral traits between dairy cows with low and high somatic cell count

The objective of this study was to examine associations of locomotion score, hygiene, body condition score (BCS), lying behavior, and milk production with dairy cow somatic cell count (SCC; low or high). Cows from 14 commercial free-stall dairy herds in Ontario, Canada were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Each farm was visited for a total of 3 observation periods (at 5-wk intervals) on 2 occasions per period (7 d apart) until 3 Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) milk tests had been completed. Upon immediate receiving of the results of each DHI test, lactating Holstein cows were selected according to SCC. Cows that ranked in the top 10% for SCC in each herd (≥200,000 cells/mL; n = 370) were first selected and paired based on parity and DIM to cows within the same herd with low SCC (≤100,000 cells/mL; n = 382). Lying behavior was recorded for selected cows for 6 d after each milk test sampling, using data loggers. On the visit where data loggers were attached, cows were scored for gait (1 = sound to 5 = lame) and hygiene of udder, lower legs, and upper legs/flank (1 = clean to 4 = dirty). On the visit where data loggers were removed 7 d later, BCS (1 = thin to 5 = fat) and hygiene were scored. Cows were then classified into each of the scoring categories for hygiene (clean: ≤ 2, dirty: ≥3), BCS (high: ≥4, normal: 3–3.5, low: ≤2.5), and gait (sound: ≤2, lame: ≥ 3). As compared to normal BCS cows, low BCS cows were associated with high SCC (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.00–2.47). Cows with high SCC were associated with producing 2.2 ± 0.72 kg/d less milk than those with low SCC. As compared to normal BCS cows, low BCS cows were associated with reduced lying time (-27.2 ± 12.5 min/d), decreased lower leg hygiene (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.08–6.46), and increased milk production (+2.9 ± 0.88 kg/d). These results suggest that low BCS may be a mediating factor among lying behavior, hygiene, and production level with high SCC.

Short communication: Increased somatic cell count is associated with milk loss and reduced feed efficiency in lactating dairy cows

The objective was to evaluate the relationship of somatic cell count (SCC; cells/mL) with milk yield, energy-corrected milk yield (ECM; kg/d), dry matter intake (DMI; kg/d), feed efficiency for milk (FEMY; kg of milk/kg of DMI), and feed efficiency for ECM (FEECM; kg of ECM/kg of DMI) in lactating dairy cows. We analyzed an SCC database consisting of 7 experiments, which were conducted at The Pennsylvania State University's Dairy Teaching and Research Center between 2009 and 2015. The experiments included in the SCC database were randomized block designs and investigated dietary effects on cow performance over 6 to 11 wk. Each experiment took repeated measurements of SCC, milk yield, milk composition, and DMI. After exclusion of records from cows without lactation number, days in milk, and only 1 measurement, the database comprised 1,094 observations of 254 cows for estimating the effect of SCC on milk yield, DMI, and FEMY and 1,079 observations of 250 cows for estimating the effect of SCC on ECM and FEECM. Data were analyzed in R using a linear mixed model with natural logarithm of SCC, lactation number (1, 2, and ≥3), days in milk, and the interactions of the linear predictors as fixed effects and cow within block and experiment as random effect. Natural logarithm of SCC was negatively correlated with milk yield, ECM, DMI, FEMY, and FEECM. Our results suggest that a cow with relatively high SCC (250,000 cells/mL) compared with a cow with a relatively low SCC (50,000 cells/mL) produces, on average, 1.6 kg/d less milk, consumes 0.3 kg/d less DMI, produces 0.04 kg less milk per kg of DMI, and produces 0.03 less ECM per kg of DMI. The observed decrease of feed efficiency with increased SCC adds to previously known economic losses and environmental impacts associated with mastitis, which should provide a further incentive to control mastitis in dairy cows.

Analytical study of bladder tumor

Background: Treatment of bladder tumor still provides the romance in Urology. The purpose of this study is to study the prevalence of various types of bladder tumors, to compare various treatment modalities for bladder tumors, to study different presentations of patients with bladder tumor.Methods: The present study was a prospective analytical study of 30 patients of bladder tumor conducted at Dhiraj General Hospital attached to S.B.K.S Medical College from October 2011 to July 2013. All the details of patients in term of demography, risk factors, symptoms and sign, radiological, endoscopic, histopathological features, various treatment modalities offered, and follow-up of patients were studied and analysed using descriptive statistics.Results: Maximum number of patients was presented in sixth decade of life. Youngest patient was 30 years old and oldest patient was 77 years old. 80% patients were male, and 20% patients were female. History of smoking was present in 22 patients, history of exposure to occupational hazards was present in 4 patients and only 2 patients had positive family history. Majority 93.3% patients were presented with haematuria and 16 patients had anaemia. 15 patients had high grade muscle invasive TCC, followed by 10 patients with low grade non-muscle invasive TCC. 3 patients were having low grade non-muscle invasive SCC, 1 patient was having high grade muscle invasive SCC and 1 patient was having high grade non-muscle invasive TCC.Conclusions: The findings of the study conclude that TURBT followed by intravesical instillation of BCG gave good results in patients with low grade and high grade non-muscle invasive tumor. For muscle invasive tumor radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is the ideal treatment but TURBT followed by radiotherapy has also given good results with fewer side effects.

Relating Mindfulness to Attitudinal Ambivalence Through Self-concept Clarity

Attitudinal ambivalence is characterized by conflict and indecision. Individuals differ in the extent to which they hold ambivalent attitudes, and this has recently been shown to be associated with mindfulness. Specifically, higher mindfulness was related to lower levels of ambivalence. The current study examined whether this relationship would be mediated by the clarity that individuals have about themselves (self-concept clarity, SCC). A close relationship between the self and attitudes has been documented in previous research, and the current study hypothesized (a) that high SCC would be associated with less attitudinal ambivalence and (b) that this association might account for the relationship between mindfulness and ambivalence. Participants of the current study (N = 114) completed measures of mindfulness and SCC as well as an attitude survey asking them about various contentious issues (e.g., euthanasia). Results of linear mixed-effects model analyses showed that both higher mindfulness and higher SCC were associated with lower levels of attitudinal ambivalence. Moreover, bootstrapping mediation analyses showed that SCC mediated the association between mindfulness and ambivalence. Results suggest that mindfulness may foster self-knowledge and that clear self-knowledge may shield individuals from feeling too much conflict and indecision about various contentious issues.

Relationship between Somatic Cell Count and Bovine Subclinical Mastitis in Raw Milk in Egypt

A total of 150 raw milk samples (75 each from Holstein Friesian cows and 75 buffaloes)from Egyptian farms were collected and transferredto the Laboratory to estimate Somatic Cell Count and bacteriological examination for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. Prevalence of S.aureus, Staphyloccocus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus spp. in cow milk samples were 60.0%,34.7%,17.3% and 54.7% respectively; the prevalence of the corresponding bacterial species in buffaloes were 48.0%, 32.0%,10.7% and 50.7% , respectively. On the other hand, prevalence of E.coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Morganella, Providencia and Citrobacter in were18.7%,45.3%,73.3%,24.0%,30.7% and 1.4% in cows milk samples, and 14.7%, 70.7%, 76.0%, 49.5% , 56.0% and 2.6%in buffaloes milk, respectively. Milk samples contained SCC lower than 200 000 SCC/ml were mostly culture negative. Samples having 200 000- 500000 of SCC/ml were mainly infected with Enterobactericeae spp. Samples with high SCC (500 000 to 1000 000/ml) was associated with infections caused by most studied bacteria especially S.aureus (54.3%), whereas samples with very high SCC (≥1000 000) /ml) was associated with infections caused by Staphylococcus spp (62.0%), Streptococcus agalactiae(73.0%), S.aureus(43.2%), Streptococcus spp(53.1%), E.coli(43.0%), Klebsiella(45.9%), Proteus(40.9%), Morganella (56.4%), Providencia(47.7%) and Citrobacter (66.7%). The present study concluded that most of milk samples analyzed contained high bacterial and SCC , therefore attention should be directed towards the health status of the bovine udder and the appropriate measures to minimize the incidence of mastitis .

Mice pathology study of toxA and exoS genes bearing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from bovine Sub-clinical mastitis in West Begal with their Antibiogram

Sub-clinical Mastitis is one of the major problems in India which is among the largest milk producing countries in the world, hampering national economy. Among 422 bovine milk samples screened from different cattle farms of West Bengal with history of infection and drop in milk yield by on-spot bromothymol blue (BTB) test, 371 samples were considered for collection and secondary screening by somatic cell count study. The collected milk samples showed significantly high average SCC value of 3.26-4.88 lakh cells/ml of milk which was indicative of infection. Samples (23, 6.53%) were found to be positive for Pseudomonas sp. showing distinct bluish-green pigmentation on cetrimide agar, typical results on morphological and in biochemical characterization. Presence of 19 (5.39%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were confirmed by fluorescent technique for detection of characteristic blue-green fluorescence by the pigment pyoverdin. PCR of these positive isolates revealed that 11 isolates were positive for toxA and 6 isolates for exoS genes with 2 isolates possessing both the genes. In Mice pathogenicity test, highest fatality (100%) was shown by the isolates with both the genes followed by isolates with toxA (66.67%) and exoS (41.67%) respectively with successful re-isolation of P. aeruginosa from the dead mice. Post-mortem examination of the dead mice showed marked haemorrhages on liver, blackish discoloration of intestines and haemorrhages on lungs. Antibiogram revealed that the isolates were highly sensitive to drugs like amikacin (89.47%), imipenem (84.21%), meropenem (78.95%) and cefoperazone-sulbactam (84.21%) but resistant to tetracycline (68.42%), piperacillin (63.16%), oxacillin (52.63%), mecilinam (47.37%) and others.

The comparison of Architect SCC and cobas SCC tests

ntroduction: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen isolated by Kato and Torigoe in 1977, belonging to the serine and cysteine proteases inhibitors has been recognized as the marker of choice for the cervical cancer. However, high SCC expression has been also found in others neoplasms such as non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck carcinoma.<br>Material and Methods: For many years, for serum SCC-Ag determination the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay with the reference standard from Abbott Diagnostics has been used. Recently, also the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay produced by Roche Diagnostics is applied. This method has been standardized against the ARCHITECT SCC assay from Abbott Diagnostics.<br>Results: Significant correlations between the results of both analyzed tests were shown. The concentration of squamous cell antigen was tested using the ARCHITRCT SCC and COBAS SCC test in 109 patients with cervical cancer. The comparative analyses have revealed the higher COBAS SCC results in comparison with the ARCHITECT SCC assay across the all concentration range. The results obtained with the new COBAS SCC test were significantly higher than the previously used ARCHITECT SCC test.<br>Comments: The significant differences between SCC-Ag concentration of COBAS SCC and ARCHITECT SCC may be due to the different SCCA1 and SCCA2 properties of monoclonal antibodies.

Influence of Chloride for SCC Susceptibility on 15Cr Stainless Steel at High Temperatures under CO<sub>2</sub> Environment

The effects of chloride ion concentration on SCC susceptibility of 15Cr and 13Cr martensitic stainless steels were investigated at 180°C by SSRT. Transgranular SCC occurred in the environment containing CO2 and chloride ion. The increasing chloride ion concentration was significantly affected SCC susceptibility of 15Cr SS. In addition, the contribution of hydrogen to SCC was examined at high temperature by SSRT with electrochemically polarization. The cathodically charged specimens showed hydrogen embrittlement. The fracture surface was similar to that of high temperature SCC. On the other hand, the SCC was accelerated by anodic polarization and not by cathodic polarization. The SCC behavior of martensitic stainless steel at high temperature is affect by evolved hydrogen atom. It is concluded that hydrogen plays a key role in the crack propagation.

Durability characteristics of binary blend high strength SCC

SCC has emerged as an inevitable option in situations where there is scarcity of skilled labour at construction sites. In the present paper an attempt was made to produce SCC with three different supplementary cementitious materials as a partial substitute to cement in binary blend. Cement was replaced with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) (25%, 50% & 75%), Metakaolin (MK) (10%, 20% & 30%) and Silica Fume (SF) (5%, 10% & 15%) respectively. Durability studies such as resistance against acid attack, sulphate attack, water absorption and sorptivity were done to evaluate the suitability of mineral admixtures. Experimental results of binary blend SCC were compared with concrete (NVC) to understand the effect of mineral admixtures. The results indicated low water absorption and lesser volume of permeable voids in MK based SCC compared to NVC. GGBFS based SCC (with 50% Substitution) exhibited better resistance against acid attack than NVC. No significant difference in weight loss was observed for concrete immersed in Na2So4 solution. SF with 10% substitution and MK with 20% substitution gave good results compared to control SCC. Hence it is concluded that SCC could be produced with supplementary cementitious materials without compromising on durability.

Sustainable Construction—Use of Stone Dust as Plasticiser in High Strength SCC with Blended Cement

Extensive growth in the developing countries due to infrastructure development is resulting into massive consumption of concrete thereby increasing the demand on concrete materials. Quite large amounts of fine aggregates are required for concrete in developing countries thus shortages of quality river sand is putting pressure on availability of fine aggregates. To fulfill the high demand of fine aggregates, a search for alternative materials is in process. Stone crushing and processing industry is a large industry which generates large amounts of stone dust and slurry which is a waste produced from this process. Tons of such waste generated has no useful purpose except as landfill material. Some preliminary studies have been conducted into use of marble/ limestone waste for use in concrete [1] [2]. This study aims at using stone dust as partial replacement of sand in concrete to observe its effects on workability and other mechanical properties. This would result in useful consumption of this waste product thereby eliminating environmental issues related to its disposal. Partial replacement of 10% and 20% sand replacement with stone dust is carried out with the use of self-compacting concrete with blended cement. Blended cement used contains 50% rice husk ash and 50% Portland cement. Such high strength SCC with blended cement containing 50% rice husk ash and 50% Portland cement has already been tested to provide better quality concrete [3]. Wide ranging investigations covering most aspects of mechanical behavior and permeability were carried out for various mixes for compressive strengths of 60 MPa & 80 MPa. Compressive strengths of high strength SCC with blended cements and 10% and 20% replacement of sand with stone dust for 60 MPa and 80 MPa were observed to be higher by about 10% to 13% than the control specimen. Higher elastic moduli and reduced permeability were observed along with better sulphate and acid resistance. Better strengths and improved durability of such high strength SCC make it a more acceptable material for major construction projects thereby reducing the burden on environment and use of such waste product for a useful purpose promoting sustainable construction.

Optimizing High Performance Self Compacting Concrete

This paper’s objectives are to learn the effect of glass powder, silica fume, Polycarboxylate Ether, and gravel to optimizing composition of each factor in making High Performance SCC. Taguchi method is proposed in this paper as best solution to minimize specimen variable which is more than 80 variations. Taguchi data analysis method is applied to provide composition, optimizing, and the effect of contributing materials for nine variable of specimens. Concrete’s workability was analyzed using Slump flow test, V-funnel test, and L-box test. Compressive and porosity test were performed for the hardened state. With a dimension of 100×200 mm the cylindrical specimens were cast for compressive test with the age of 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 days. Porosity test was conducted at 28 days. It is revealed that silica fume contributes greatly to slump flow and porosity. Coarse aggregate shows the greatest contributing factor to L-box and compressive test. However, all factors show unclear result to V-funnel test.

Polymorphisms of the Toll-Like Receptor 2 of Goats (Capra hircus) may be Associated with Somatic Cell Count in Milk

ABSTRACTToll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays an important role in recognition by the innate immune system of Gram-positive bacteria. As Gram-positive bacteria cause mastitis, we examined variations in the region of the TLR2 gene that codes for the extracellular domain. Samples of forty goats from a single dairy herd were collected, half with low SCC (≤200,000 cells/mL), and half with higher SCC. Two synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified: 840G > A and 1083A > G. One nonsynonymous SNP 739G > A was identified. This coded for valine or isoleucine, which have similar physiochemical properties, and was not in a region coding for a known functional domain. Surprisingly, the least square mean SCC of the heterozygous goats (146,220) was significantly lower than the SCC of homozygous GG goats (537,700; p = 0.004), although these two groups were similar in days in milk (p = 0.984), and there was no significant difference by breed (p = 0.941). Because factors other than mastitis can affect SCC and our sample sizes were limited, additional studies are needed to corroborate an association between TLR2 genotype and SCC or mastitis in goats.

Comparison of Strength of High Strength SCC using Rounded Coarse Aggregate and Angular Coarse Aggregates

Comparison of Strength of High Strength SCC using Rounded Coarse Aggregate and Angular Coarse Aggregates

Effect of supplementation of several coated vitamins and chelated trace minerals on reducing the incidences of subclinical mastitis in crossbred cows

Two hundred and fifty five crossbred cows were selected, having a history of sub-clinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM) in previous lactation. Seventy eight crossbred cows were served as control, and the remaining were fed daily 10 g supplement containing chelated Cu, Zn, Cr, vitamins E and A along with iodine for 4 weeks prior to calving. Milk and blood samples were collected for analysis of SCC, Na, K, Cl, pH, EC, neutrophil count, FRAP activity etc. Out of 177 experimental cows, only 36 (20%) showed signs of SCM and CM with Mastect strip and CMT which was confirmed by SCC in milk (average 7.26x105 cells/ml milk). However, 67 animals (86%) out of 78 in control group were affected by SCM as indicated by the higher SCC in milk (average 10.11x105 cells/ml milk), which was later aggravated to CM. Milk pH, EC, Na and Cl content in milk were higher (P is less than 0.05) in animals affected by SCM than the normal animals. In experimental group, of 141 animals SCC was within the normal range (1.22-2.36x105 cells/ml milk) and no signs of SCM or CM were observed. Milk lactose, protein, SNF and FRAP activity were higher in unaffected as compared to mastitic animals. On supplementation of vitamins and chelated minerals, blood neutrophil count decreased, whereas, immunoglobulin and FRAP activity increased significantly (P is less than 0.05). It was found that feeding vitamins and chelated minerals based supplement during pre-partum period could significantly reduce the incidences of SCM and CM in crossbred cows.

Effects of Sensitization and Hydrogen on Stress Corrosion Cracking of 18-8 Type Stainless Steel

Austenitic stainless steels always failure in intergranular corrosion, stress corrosion cracking and their synthesis. Moreover, hydrogen also plays an important role in SCC. Effects of sensitization and hydrogen on stress corrosion cracking of 18-8 type stainless steel (304 and 304L) were investigated in this paper. Three states of specimens, including as-received, sensitization and hydrogen precharged, were prepared for this study. Two kinds of environment, involving air and 0.5mol H2SO4 +0.01mol KSCN solution, were selected to compare the SCC sensitivity of different condition of 304 and 304L by the slow strain rate tensile test (SSRT). Fracture morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to check the SCC fracture characteristic. In SEM, evident secondary cracks were found on the fracture surface of 304. Results showed that: 1) hydrogen precharged 304L has high SCC sensitivity (85.7% ) compared with low SCC sensitivity in solution (14.5%), which reveal that SCC of 304L is hydrogen-induced cracking type; 2) 304 stainless steel has high SCC sensitivity (60.8%); 3) sensitization increases the SCC sensitivity of 304 stainless steel (from 60.8% to 71.4%).

Prediction of intramammary infection status across the dry period from lifetime cow records

The dry period is very important for mammary gland health, with the aim not only to cure existing intramammary infections (IMI) but also to prevent new IMI. Although it is known that the dry period is an important time for optimizing udder health, the probability that individual cows will succumb to a new IMI or, if infected, will fail to cure an IMI is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate whether lifetime cow data, available through routine on-farm milk recording, could be used to predict changes in IMI status across the dry period for individual cows that were (1) deemed high somatic cell count (SCC; >199,000 cells/mL) or (2) low SCC (<200,000 cells/mL) at the last test day before drying off. Milk recording data collected between September 1994 and July 2014 from 114 herds in the United Kingdom were used. Two 2-level random effects models were built and both cure and new IMI were used as outcome variables in separate models. Cows with a smaller proportion of test days with a high SCC in the lactation before drying off, a smaller proportion of test days recording a high SCC in the lactation before the current lactation, of lower parity, producing less milk before drying off, of lower days in milk at drying off, and of lower SCC just before drying off were more likely to cure across the dry period. Dry period length had no effect on the likelihood of cure. Individual cows with a smaller proportion of test days recording a high SCC in the lactation before the current, of lower parity, of lower milk production at drying off, and fewer days in milk at drying off were less likely to develop a new IMI. Dry period length was found to have no effect on the probability of new IMI. Model predictions showed that a high level of discrimination was possible between cows with a high and low risk of both cures and new infections across the dry period.

Molecular characterization of lactoferrin gene and its association with mastitis in crossbred cattle

Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood of 100 crossbred cattle (HF, Jersey, Brown Swiss x Hariana cattle). Exon 4 and intron 6 of lactoferrin (Lf) gene was characterized by PCR-SSCP. Two alleles of exon 4, namely E &amp; F showing two genotypes EE and EF and two alleles of intron 6, namely A and B showing two genotypes AA and AB were found in studied population. Cloning and sequencing results revealed that in exon 4, there was one SNP in allele E and two SNPs in allele F, which changed amino acid isoleucine to valine. In intron 6 there was one SNP in allele A and three SNPs in allele B. Least square analysis for SCC and FLMY revealed that genotype AA was significantly associated with low SCC, while genotype AB was significantly associated with high SCC. However, genotype EE was significantly associated with FLMY as compared to genotype EF.

La clarté du concept de soi : validation d’une échelle de mesure en langue française

IntroductionThe self-concept clarity scale (SCC, Campbell et al., 1996) measures the extent to which self-beliefs are perceived as clearly defined, internally consistent and temporally stable. ObjectiveThe study aimed at testing the reliability and validity of a French version of the SCC scale and its relevance to predict the relationship between self-concept and vocational preference. MethodThree studies have been conducted on a total sample of 1114 participants (691 women) aged 15 and 62. ResultsResults revealed that the French version of the SCC had a unidimensional factor structure and high levels of internal consistency and temporal stability (study 1). As predicted, high SCC scores were independently associated with high self-esteem, high conscientiousness, high agreeability, low neuroticism and low social comparison orientation (study 2). Finally, a criterion validity argument was provided by demonstrating that high SCC scores predicted high matching degree between self-concept and occupational preference prototype (study 3). ConclusionThe psychometric properties of the French version of SCC are satisfactory and comparable to those of the English original scale. The use of the SCC scale in academic guidance and career counseling is therefore discussed.

Prognostic Impact of Preoperative Tumor Marker Levels and Lymphovascular Invasion in Pathological Stage I Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Some unfavorable prognostic factors for stage I non-small-cell lung cancers have been reported; however, they are not reflected in the current Tumor-Node-Metastasis classification. We retrospectively reviewed 629 patients who underwent complete resection of pathological stage I adenocarcinomas (ADs) or squamous cell carcinomas (SQs) at two institutes between 1996 and 2011. The correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates was analyzed to identify prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis indicated that among ADs, high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels (p = 0.04 for overall survival [OS]; p < 0.01 for recurrence-free survival [RFS]; p = 0.02 for disease-specific survival [DSS]), lymphatic permeation (p < 0.01 for RFS and DSS), and vascular invasion (p < 0.01 for OS and RFS; p = 0.03 for DSS) were independent prognostic factors. Among SQs, high squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) (p < 0.05 for OS), and vascular invasion (p < 0.05 for RFS and DSS) were independently prognostic. We suggest that among completely resected tumors less than or equal to 5 cm without lymph node metastasis, the current stages IA and IB AD with high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels, lymphatic permeation, or vascular invasion should be upgraded to stage IB and IIA, respectively. The current stage IA SQ with high SCC antigen levels or vascular invasion should be upgraded to stage IB. These reclassifications accurately reflect survival status (p < 0.04 in all comparisons). Some important differences in prognostic factors were observed between AD and SQ. High preoperative serum tumor marker levels and lymphovascular invasion should be included as additional criteria in the forthcoming Tumor-Node-Metastasis staging.

IMPACT OF SELECTED PARAMETERS ON MILK PRODUCTION IN TSIGAI BREED

The objective of our research was to study selected parameters which affect milk production. The study was performed in the selected herd of purebred Tsigai ewes (231 animals). Regular milk yield recording was performed during the morning milking in around the middle of April, May and June. Milk samples were analyzed for basic milk composition (fat, protein and lactose) and somatic cells count. According to animals, the dairy ewes were divided into the four groups on the basis of individual SCC (G1= SCC 106 cells.ml-1 to study the frequency of distribution of animals in selected group of ewes throughout experimental period. We have not created group with SCC between 700-1000×103 cells.ml-1 because there would not be sufficient number of animals. The average daily milk production in selected herd of Tsigai was 614.51 ml, equivalent to 95.65 liters for a normalized lactation. We reached the highest daily milk production in April 779 ml and the highest content of fat and protein in May, while milk production was lower by only 30 ml. We conclude that the protein content of milk was over 6% within each division, whether by order of lactation, season or somatic cells count, except of June (5.98%). We found a tendency to lower milk production by a higher SCC. With the increasing SCC decreased lactose content from 4.66% (G1) to 4.27% (G4) and there is a need for performing bacteriological examination in milk.